overweight

1 of 3

noun

over·​weight ˈō-vər-ˌwāt 

sense 2 is usually

ˌō-vər-ˈwāt 

1

: weight over and above what is required or allowed

2

: excessive or burdensome weight

overweight

2 of 3

verb

over·​weight ˌō-vər-ˈwāt 

overweighted; overweighting; overweights

transitive verb

1

: to give too much weight or consideration to

2

: to weight excessively

overweight

3 of 3

adjective

over·​weight ˌō-vər-ˈwāt 

: exceeding expected, normal, or proper weight

especially : exceeding the bodily weight normal for one's age, height, and build

Synonyms of overweight

Adjective

• plump
• fat
• obese
• round

Examples of overweight in a Sentence

Adjective

He looked to be at least 20 pounds overweight.

an overweight person who had difficulty running even a short distance

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Why [look down on] people who are perhaps a little overweight or have medical issues and require mobility scooters? — Marta Balaga, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026

Barclays reiterates SpaceX as overweight Barclays said the company is firing on all cylinders with plenty of upside. — Michael Bloom, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026

Verb

Cantor Fitzgerald upgrades Better Home & Finance to overweight from neutral Cantor upgraded the digital mortgage company citing leadership clarity. — Michael Bloom, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Archer Aviation — The developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft gained 3% after Barclays assumed coverage of the stock with an overweight rating. — Scott Schnipper, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026

Nerdy, overweight, and hyper-intellectual, Oscar never seems to fit in with his peers and is unlucky in love. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1621, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overweight

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

overweight

1 of 2 noun

over·​weight ˈō-vər-ˌwāt 

sense 2 is usually ˌō-vər-ˈwāt

1

: weight above what is required or allowed

2

: excessive or burdensome weight

overweight

2 of 2 adjective

over·​weight ˌō-vər-ˈwāt 

: being more than the expected, normal, or proper weight

especially : having greater than normal bodily weight for one's age, height, and build

Medical Definition

overweight

adjective

over·​weight -ˈwāt 

: weighing in excess of the normal for one's age, height, and build

overweight adolescents

overweight adults typically have a body mass index of 25 to 29.9

overweight noun